Padonia's pool of talent proves just enough to hold off S. Carroll

July 27, 1995|By Doug Brown | Doug Brown,Sun Staff Writer

Upstart South Carroll came within five points of springing one of the biggest upsets in the Central Maryland Swim League's 23-year history.

In the opening week of the season, South Carroll, promoted over the winter from Division II to I, lost to five-time defending champion Padonia, 244-239. Padonia went on to win the rest of its meets and finished the season with a 30-meet winning streak, a league record.

"Considering there are 488 points in a meet, a five-point difference is very close," said Padonia's Chuck LaBerge, who this year succeeded Andover's David Rave as CMSL president. "Of the 105 meets throughout the league this year, we had a dozen decided by under five points."

South Carroll is an example of a team with a few outstanding swimmers in each age group, but limited depth. Teams like Padonia and Division I runner-up Shipley's Choice win with depth as well as quality.

Padonia hasn't lost a dual meet since the next-to-last week of the 1989 season when it was stunned by Crofton Aquatics. Padonia has captured six straight Division I titles and 12 in the past 15 years.

In its 23rd season, the CMSL had its customary 42 teams and 4,400 swimmers. Eighty-five percent of the coaches once swam in the league.

At the Straehle Invitational CMSL Individual Championships at Padonia yesterday, Meadowbrook's Michael Phelps set league records in the 9-10 boys 50-meter freestyle (30.07 seconds) and 100 individual medley (1:16.38). South Carroll's Will Kistler also was under the old 50 free mark with a 30.48.

West Howard's Mike Wheeler broke one of the CMSL's oldest records with a 56.04 in the 13-14 100 freestyle, wiping out the 56.31 by Suburban's Dave DeGruchey in 1977.

Meadowbrook's 11-12 girls lowered the record in the 200 freestyle relay to 2:02.24 and South Carroll had a 1:59.02 in the 11-12 boys 200 relay to shatter Waugh Chapel's 14-year-old record by almost four seconds.